Inkstand



Feb. 13, 1945. G. J. sENGBuscH INKSTAND Filed Sept. 28, 1942 y MyW/L0, w V 2144391414 4 jfofvzgys.

the pen dipping well.

Patented Feb. 13, 1945 f UNITED: STATE s PATENT QFFICE A INKSTAND n Gustav J. lSeng-busch,Milwaukee, n

28, 1942, seria1N0.45 9,932

. 'r Application lsepmbei Q solenne. `(ci `This invention relates to improvements in-the construction of inkstands and it has particular reference to the construction of inkstandsof the kind'which'embody a pen'dipping well, preferably having a pen ,supporting socket associated with 4 the well, and an ink supply 'reservoir or chamber connected to the pen dipping well in sucha manner as to maintain aconstant depth ofy ink in Thevf'main object of theinvention' is to provide Vaninkstand of the, character indicated in which the flow of ink from the-reservoir yto the lpen f dipping well will be effectively maintained-and controlledand in general, itis the object'of the invention to provide an improved device of the character indicated. The device is of such a construction that it may bemade economically and at low cost Vso that thedevice may be soldat `a low price. o n

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be understood byr'eference to the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein `there is illustrated an inkstand embodying aselected'form of the invention. I

In thedrawing, Fig.y 1 i's4 perspective; Fig. 2 is a section on a vertical plane, extending through the pen dipping Welland ink reservoir at approximately the longitudinal `center of the device;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the base Apart of the'device,

other elements being removed; andIFigure 4 is a perspective of'an ink feeding cap of the ink reservoir. d l,

The :improved inkstand herein ldisclosed com- -prises a base.5,v preferably molded of glass. The base is so'formed as to provide a pen dipping well forming part l 6 'and-a chamber or receptacle .'I for receiving an ink bottle or reservoir 8.

In the vpresent instance, kthe ink bottle 8 is illustrated as beingv of ro-und form, havingl a more or less domed top 9 and an externally screwl threaded mouth portion I0.' The inkbeottle 8-is also preferably molded of glass, the threads on the mouthA portion Ill 'being for-med in the molding operation. The jbottleis r also preferably formed with an outwardly extending flange or lshoulder forming a rib II intermediate its ends.

-For receiving'the ink bottle 8, the chamber 'I in the base is made circular to substantially con form to the outside shape of the portion of the inkl bottle below `the rib II thereof. 'The' wall vI2 of the vchamber' in the base extends above the top surface`I3`of the base proper so that said chamber is formed `to extend partially4 above the base 5 andpartially into the base 5.

-, yThe chamber'l Aislconn'ected tothe pen dipping .12a-59) i .well `I through aslot or opening I4 providedin `the Wall of the chamber 1, said slot I4 extending ,from top .to bottom of the Wall forming the cham.-

ber I and to the bottom I5 of the pen dipping well 6. The chamber 'I is provided with a stepped bottom arrangement, providing a recessed bottom I6 in the same planeas the bottom I5 of the,

pen dipping well and a main bottom wallY 'Il stepped upwardlyfrom. the recessed bottom I6. n The ink bottle 8 is po-sitionedby having its rib I;I seat on the upper edge of the chamber wall I2, asclearlyvshown in Fig. 2 and the portion of the Vbottle which enters the chamber is of f such size as to t freely therein. To prevent rotation of the bottle 8,-it maybe provided with a lug I8 which enters the slot VIII as clearly shown.

.The mouth end of the ink vbottle 8.7is provided `with a cap I9, which may be formed of any suitable material which is not corroded or otherwise 'adversely affected by ink. The cap may, for example, be made of glass, porcelain or other ing the cap to the bottle.

When'the, cap isv made of rubber or any other material having an adequate degree of resiliency,

it may be advantageously provided. near its upper l end with' anv outwardly extendingjn 22, which will frictionally bear against lthe Wall of the chamber 1 as shown. Such a fin is desirable in that it frictionally connects the ink bottle to the base and resists unintentional removal of the inkk 'bottle from the base as might happen, for ex'- ample, in the event that an attempt is made to lift lthe'ink stand by'grasping the ink bottle portion thereof. Said 'n is not, however, an essen-- tial elementof the inkstand. To further assist in positioning the ink-'bottle in the receptacle 'I, the cap I9 may have a series of circumferentially spaced ribs 23 formed on its outer surface, said ribs being of such size that the cap will t snugly in the chamberl. The ribs 23 like the fin 22 are not essentialelements of thefstructure.

The slot 2I"is of such' small size that some assistance may be required to effect thei'low of Ainit outwardly therethrough. In order to insure the' proper ow of yink through the slot '2L the recessed bottom I 6 of the chamber is provided with a small knob or boss 24, which projects into close proximity to the lowermost portion of the slot. When the ink bottle 8 is in its normal inverted position as shown in Fig. 2, there will be a normal tendency for ink to pass through the slot 2i. However, because of the small size thereof, the ink may not flow freely but will tend to hang from'the lower end of the slot 2| without actually flowing therefrom. The ink will, however, bulge downwardly from the slot 2| to such an extent that it will contact the surface of the knob 24 whereupon a flow of ink will be established until the ink fills the recessed portion 25 of the chamber and substantially closes the slot 2|, The ink will, of course, ow through the opening I4 into the pen clipping well 6 to approximately the same depth.

Because of changes in barometric pressure, ink will sometimes be caused to ow out of the ink bottle to such an extent to increase the depth of ink in the recess 25. whereupon the ink will flow over the bottom wall l1, which then acts as the bottom of an overflow chamber surrounding the decess 25, By such overilow provisions. the depth to which the ink will be discharged into the recess 25 and pen dipping well 6 will vary only slightly.

To partially close the slot I4. there is provided a wedge shaped piece of material indicated at 26, same being of such size as to fit in the slot I4 from immediately below the bottom of the lug I8 of the ink bottle to approximately the ink level maintained in the pen dipping well.

The member 26 may be formed of any suitable fibrous or plastic material composition, or other material which resists corrosion by ink. and the side edges of such insert piece may be coated with a bituminous or like adhesive material. which will tend to adhesively secure the member in place. The use of such adhesive is not. however, of importance since any wedge shaped piece of material will have a normal tendency to be wedged in place in the slot I4. such wedging ac- I tion being normally adequate for the purpose indicated. To facilitate positioning of the member 25, the ends of the wall I2 which' form the slot I 4 may be provided with spaced riblike formations 21 and 28. which cooperate to form a guideway for receiving the member 26 in a substantially fixed position.

The pen holder or socket 29 molded of Dorcelain or other suitable material, may be positioned in the pen dipping well and may be so formed as to be adapted to hold a pen in upwardly extending readily available position. The socket element 29 may conveniently have its lower portion 39 of substantially cylindrical formation and it may be seated in the pen dipping wel] 6 and frictionallv held therein by means of a suitable band 3i of ber or other material.

The opening in the socket 29 through which the pen enters the pen dipping well preferably has an internal formation such as shown in my Patent 2 188 962 and it is preferably so formed that when a pen is seated therein, `the lower end portion of the pen point will at least partially be immersed in ink, some of which will then be carried upwardly on the pen point by capillary action between the face of the pen point and the adjacent wall of the pen receiving socket.

The bottom of the base member 5 may be recessed as indicated at 32 to conform with the formation of the various chambers and receptacles in the base, thereby to reduce the amount of material required to' form the base.

In one practical embodiment of the described structure, the ink bottle 8 and the base 5 are made of glass and the cap I9 and pen socket 29 are made of porcelain, and the closure member 26 is made of a fibrous composition material. All of the materials employed are readily available in adequate quantities, none of them being characterized as essential defense or war materials. The formation of the base with the opening I4 connecting the ink reservoir with the pen dipping well in the manner explained is a matter of convenience and practicality in manufacturing operations. The inserted closure element serves, of course, to retard evaporation and to exclude dust and foreign matter. The insert closure 26, the pen socket 29 and the cap I 9 may be finished in any desired color to harmonize or contrast with the glass parts.4 If the glass parts are made of clear glass, the nish `on the cap I9 will be visible through the glass wall surrounding it. The general appearance of the device may, to some extent, be controlled by the iinish employed on the outside of thecap I9, the insert closure 26 and the socket 29.

Changes in the described structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determinedby reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim:

1. An inkstand comprising a base having a pen dipping well and a reservoir chamber, said well and chamber being interconnected to permit the ilow of ink from said chamber to said well, and an ink bottle adapted to be seated on said base and to project into said chamber, and being provided with a depending dome having an ink discharging opening of such size as of itself to prevent the free iiow of ink outwardly therethrough but to allow the ink to bulge outwardly, the bottom of said chamber having an upwardly projecting knob having an external surface portion in such proximityto said opening as to be engaged by ink protruding from said opening to thereby establish the ow of ink through the opening when the ink bottle is in operative position.

2. An inkstand according to claim one wherein the ink bottle is provided with a removable cap having said dome and discharge opening therein, and which cap is provided with an outwardly extending fin for frictionally engaging the wall of said chamber to thereby frictionally connect the ink bottle to the base.

3. A11 inkstand of class described comprising a base having a pen dipping well and an ink reservoir chamber spaced from said well, said base structure having a slot for establishing communication between said well and chamber, and a closure element seated in said slot but spaced upwardly from the bottom thereof so as to leave under said closure, a passageway connecting said chamber and well.

4. An inkstand of class described comprising a base having a pen dipping well and an ink reservoir chamber spaced from said well, said base structure having a slot for establishing communication between said well and chamber, and a closure element seated in said slot but spaced upwardly from the bottom thereof so as to leave under said closure, a passageway connecting said chamber and Well, the wall portions ofthe base vforming the sides of said slot being provided with relatively spaced. ribs forming guideways for po-l sitioning said closure element in said slot.

5.v An inkstand comprising a base having a pen dipping well and a chamber, said base having an upstanding wall portion forming the upper portion of said chamben'said well and chamber being interconnected to permit the owpf ink from said chamber to said Well, an axially 10 said bottle into said chamber.

vertical ink bottle having a substantially parallel walled body portion provided with a closure at its upper end and terminating at its lower end in an unconstricted mouth portion, said bottle having an outwardly extending ilange intermediate its ends and being positioned on said base Withits mouth end portion projecting into said chamber, said flange engaging the upper end of said chamber forming wall portion of the base to thereby support the bottle, and means for controlling the discharge 'of ink from themouth of GUSTAV J. SENGBUSCH. 

